Many people ask how we traveled for more than 8 years with only a carry-on suitcase and small backpack each. In our experience, it’s quite easy, but there’s no one-size-fits-all packing list.
How you use the precious space in your luggage depends entirely on where you plan to travel and what types of activities you have in mind. So, while I won’t tell you exactly what should be in your suitcase, I can offer good advice and recommend some essential travel items when packing for long-term travel.
(Click here to jump straight to our recommended gear).
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Suitcase or Backpack? The Best Luggage for Long Term Travel
When packing for a long trip, don’t assume that you need a giant backpack. Think realistically about your travel style, your anticipated modes of transportation, and how frequently you will actually be in transit.
For example, if you expect to fly to Europe and rent a car, you may as well have a regular suitcase.
Even if you plan to use trains and buses, how much easier is it walking to the station wearing a 50-lb backpack compared to rolling a suitcase behind you?
Would you ever spend an entire day touring a city while carrying all of your belongings, even if they were in a backpack?
We asked ourselves those questions and opted for suitcases. We never regretted the decision. Here’s the suitcase I use and love.
Pack Light. If You Need It, Buy It.
It’s better to buy things as the need arises; then you know you have the right gear for the occasion. You can’t possibly anticipate or bring everything you will need for several weeks or months of travel, so don’t stress too much about your packing list.
Unless you are going somewhere truly remote, chances are you can buy any essentials on the road. In our experience, many of the items we needed were cheaper abroad.
For military travelers, packing light also gives you a better shot at a seat when flying Space-A. Some flights, particularly from bases in the Pacific, have a 30 or 40 lb baggage weight limit (depending on the type of aircraft and mission).
Even if the terminal is full of Space-A passengers in a higher category than you, most of them will have too much luggage to qualify for the weight-restricted flight. In that case, you and your 27 lb bag will go to the front of the line!
General Travel vs. Activity-Themed Trips
Whether you are traveling for a few weeks, several months, or a year+, if you want to stay light on your feet, when packing for long trips, you may need to decide in advance what activities you want to do. That way you won’t fill your suitcase with items you will use only one time.
I have many things on my travel-related life list, but it wasn’t realistic to do them all during our first year of travel. Not that we didn’t have time; needless to say, we could have done anything we wanted with 12 months at our disposal. But we agreed to use carry-on luggage only. It would have been difficult to travel light while packing for every possible activity.
For example, my husband and I both want to hike the Inca Trail. Unfortunately, incorporating that adventure would have required us to pack a bunch of stuff that we probably wouldn’t need for most other phases of our trip.
If the main focus of our travels had been hiking, of course we would have packed sturdy boots and other outdoor gear. But we were most interested in experiencing what it’s like to live in different places around the world, and we needed to save room for regular clothes. We went on some great hikes, but nothing that our trail shoes couldn’t handle.
Essential Travel Gear: Our Recommendations
Here are a few specific items we recommend for travel. I wrote a separate post related to our must-have technology, including travel apps and devices.
